Improved Maize Seeds Research Articles

Analysis of agricultural technology adoption: the use of improved maize seeds and its determinants in Ethiopia, evidence from Eastern Amhara

Agriculture is the major source of income and employment creation for majority of least developed countries. Ethiopia as one of least developed countries of sub-Saharan Africa, majority of its citizen’s livelihood is predominantly dependent on agricultural products, more specifically on the production of cereal crops (Alemayehu et al. in Adv Crop Sci Technol 6(1):1–9, 2018). This study is conducted to identify the determinants of household to adopt and use improved maize seed, one of highly cultivated cereal crops in Eastern Amhara of Ethiopia. The data used in this study are secondary data collected by the agriculture office of Amhara regional state from 3864 household farmers living in the study area in 2022 fiscal year. To address the objective of the study, both descriptive and econometric methods of data analysis are applied. Because of the binary nature of adoption to be either adaptor or non-adaptor, probit regression model is applied. The probit model result shows that being male-headed household, rural credit provision, access to irrigation and the use of fertilizers affect the tendency of adopting improved maize seeds are positively related, while total arable land size owned by farmers negatively affects adoption status. Based on this result, the researcher recommends that government and other institutions should be invited to facilitate and directly involve in providing credit, irrigation, and fertilizers in the study area.

Factors Influencing the Use of Improved Maize Seed and Participation in the Seed Demonstration Program by Smallholder Farmers in Kwali Area Council Abuja, Nigeria

This study identified the factors influencing the use of improved maize seeds by the smallholder maize farmers and their participation in the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) seed demonstration program (SDP) in the Kwali area. A multistage sample strategy was utilized to obtain 250 cross-sectional data from nine wards (rural settlements) in the study area. The data was analyzed using linear and logistic regression models. The estimation results from the linear model revealed that total farm size and participation in NASC Seed demonstration program significantly influenced the likelihood of smallholder farmers using improved maize seeds in the study area. The logit model indicates that household income and well-being influenced the likelihood of smallholder farmers’ participation in the NASC seed demonstration program. Therefore, the study recommended that the federal government and policymakers should formulate and implement policies and interventions to encourage the use of improved maize seeds in Nigeria.

Nourishing the farms, nourishing the plates: Association of climate‐smart agricultural practices with household dietary diversity and food security in smallholders

AbstractClimate‐smart agricultural (CSA) practices are increasingly being promoted as nature‐based solutions to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farm households amid a sharp increase in climate‐change anomalies. However, the extent to which CSA practices contribute to smallholder food security and dietary diversity remains unclear. In this study, we use panel and nationally representative data from Tanzania to examine the association between two climate‐smart agricultural practices, namely, improved maize varieties and maize‐legume intercropping, and food security in smallholder farm households. We use maize yield per acre, adult‐equivalent food expenditure, and household dietary diversity scores to measure household food security, representing three of the four food security pillars: availability, access, and utilization. We also examine the complementarity and potential advantages of combining improved maize seeds with fertilizers. Using standard panel data estimation approaches, we find a positive association between the adoption of improved maize varieties and maize‐legume intercropping and an increase in food production measured through higher crop productivity. However, we do not find a corresponding improvement in household dietary diversity or increased food expenditure, despite the higher crop production. Several factors might explain this outcome, including the challenges faced by farmers in accessing markets to sell surplus produce, the influence of established dietary habits, gender issues, and other local factors that promote the consumption of cereal‐based foods such as maize. Our findings suggest that CSA practices may help improve food production and availability, but more effort is needed to translate increased food production into improved dietary diversity and better food security among smallholder farmers in sub‐Saharan Africa. [EconLit Citations: C23, D12, D13, D24, Q12, Q16, Q18, Q54].

Economic impact of adopting bundled SAPs on crop yield and household incomes among smallholder maize farmers in Morogoro region, Tanzania

This paper uses a multinomial endogenous treatment effect model and data from a sample of 470 farming households to assess the impacts of adopting sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) on farm yield and household incomes among smallholder maize farmers in Morogoro region. Results show that combination of improved maize and crop residual significantly increased maize yield by 46%, while intercropping with crop residual (65%), improved maize seeds with manure use (58%), and maize rotation with intercropping (57%). The model estimates indicate that individual elements of SAPs increased yield by crop residual (30%), crop rotation (38%), improved maize varieties (85%), intercropping (58%), and manure (43%) whereas, the application of bundled SAPs had significant impacts on the household income via the following combinations; maize-legume rotation and crop residual (50%), improved maize and crop residual (46%), improved maize and manure (70%), maize-legumes rotation and improved maize (46%), maize rotation and intercropping (68%), maize rotation, improved maize, crop residual, and intercropping (41%), and lastly improved maize, intercropping, manure, crop residual, and crop rotation (55%). The study recommends actors involved in the design, promotion and dissemination of SAPs to find a suitable mix or combination of these practices that will enhance maize productivity and incomes, while simultaneously addressing issues related to the dis-adoption of SAPs, and climate change, by raising awareness and educating to farmers about the benefits of using SAPs and implementing mitigative measures for climate change. This includes providing financial incentives such as loans and subsidies, as well as conducting policy reforms to evaluate and adjust policies that currently favor the use of conventional practices in Tanzania.

On-Farm Experimentation with Improved Maize Seed and Soil Amendments in Southern Ghana: Productivity Effects in Small Holder Farms

Maize production in Ghana is limited by several factors including inadequate use of improved varieties and poor soil fertility management. To contribute to addressing these challenges in maize production, two on-farm experiments were conducted each in the semi deciduous forest and coastal savannah agroecological zones (AEZs) of Ghana during the major and minor cropping seasons of 2017. The study adopted a 3 × 4 factorial arranged in an RCBD with four replications in the major season. The factors were three maize varieties (Omankwa, Obatanpa, and Ahomatea) and four soil amendments (goat manure at 5 t·ha−1; inorganic fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O at 95-37.5–37.5 kg·ha−1); 50% goat manure (2.5 t·ha−1) + 50% inorganic fertilizer (N-P2O5-K2O at 47.5–18.75–18.75 kg·ha−1); and the control (no soil amendment)).To evaluate the residual implications of these soil amendments in the minor season, each plot used in the major season was further divided into two except for the control plot, resulting in a split plot design with factorial of 3 maize varieties × 7 soil amendments. The results revealed a significant interaction between maize variety and soil amendment in both seasons with the use of sole inorganic fertilizer resulting in significantly higher ( p < 0.05 ) grain yields for all varieties in both AEZs in the major cropping season. In the minor season, the combined treatment of 50% goat manure + 50% inorganic fertilizer resulted in higher grain yields for all the varieties in both AEZs with improved maize (Omankwa and Obatanpa) having significantly higher ( p < 0.05 ) grain yields (33–40%) than the landrace (Ahomatea). The significantly lower ( p < 0.05 ) performance of maize varieties on the residual plots in both AEZs suggests that there were minimal residual effects from the major season. Thus, in continuously cropped fields, the use of inorganic fertilizer + goat manure is required in addition to improved seeds for sustainable maize production.

Low-Quality Seeds, Labor Supply and Economic Returns: Experimental Evidence from Tanzania

Abstract Low productivity in agriculture is a major cause of poverty and food insecurity in Africa. One explanation for low productivity is the widespread presence of low-quality inputs on local markets (“lemon technologies”), which causes uncertainty among farmers and erodes incentives for adoption. We report the results from a field experiment in Tanzania to study the impact of improved maize seeds in a context where we exogenously vary seed quality and uncertainty about seed type. The analysis is at the level of experimental plots owned and managed by farmers (not the entire farm). While improved seed positively affects harvests and reduces the probability of crop failure among fully-informed farmers, these benefits are attenuated significantly when farmers are uncertain about the seed type they receive. The main channel linking uncertainty to lower harvest levels is the re-allocation of labor—a complementary input. The presence of lemon inputs on the market for modern inputs impedes learning about the profitability of these inputs and increases the yield gap by slowing down adoption in subsequent periods.

Striving to be resilient: the role of crop-poultry integrated system as a climate change adaptation strategy in semiarid eastern Kenya

Climate change continues to pose significant challenges to food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers specifically in semi-arid regions. One approach that holds prospects for climate risk management is climate-smart agriculture (CSA). CSA has concentrated on crop practices with little attention to livestock especially indigenous (village) chickens as a potential practice that can be combined with crop agriculture. This study considers the adoption of three CSA practices: improved maize seeds (IS), soil management (SM), indigenous chicken (IC) enterprise and their various combinations. Using survey data collected from 300 farming households in semiarid Kenya, we estimate the impact of integrated crop-poultry system adoption on food security and farm income using multinomial endogenous treatment effect models. Robustness checks are conducted using alternative identification strategies. Results show that, generally, the adoption of IS, SM, IC and their combinations reduces the number of months without enough food and increases farm income. When we consider the magnitude of the impacts, interesting results emerge when a combination of the CSA practices are considered. The highest impact is observed with the joint adoption of SM & IC and IS &IC. Broadly, the empirical findings suggest that integrated systems (in our case crop-poultry integration), deserve both policy and research attention as they provide synergistic benefits that improve climate resilience and household welfare.

Tackling post-COVID-19 pandemic food crises through the adoption of improved maize seeds and technologies by smallholder farmers: The case of Ejura Sekyeredumase in Ghana

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to accelerate food production efforts to achieve the UN SDG two, i. e., zero hunger target by 2030, is gaining momentum across the global food security discourse. One way to accelerate food production is to adopt improved seeds and technologies that may close existing yield gaps and support food security efforts in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper uses mixed methods, including key informant interviews, structured household questionnaire surveys and focus group discussions, to examine the factors influencing the adoption of improved seeds and complementing technologies in Ghana. In particular, we draw insight from theories of failed market-induced behavior, innovation diffusion and induced-innovation theories to explore farmers' perceptions and adoption of different specific improved maize varieties and technologies for agricultural productivity. Our findings suggest that the level of awareness of improved seeds, particularly hybrid seeds and technologies, and the adoption rate of these technologies are low among Ghana's rural farmers. The findings reveal that socio-demographic and economic factors such as gender, age, cost of seeds, the promise of more yields, market access, social networks' influence, seed availability and accessibility are essential determinants of adopting improved planting technologies among smallholder farmers. This paper argues that location and context-specific-targeted extension services delivery to enhance the widespread adoption of improved seeds and technologies across scales can build farmers' capacity to increase agricultural productivity.

Adoption of Improved Seeds and Market Participation of Family Farms: The Case of Maize Cultivation in Cameroon

In most countries of the world, the rural areas is that which is essentially covered of poor. This fact, the fight against poverty in the rural areas is a major challenge for development actors. One of the ways to improve the living conditions of rural people is to further promote the commercial transformation of agriculture, the source of their livelihood, by encouraging them to participate in the markets for agricultural goods. To this end, the adoption of improved agricultural technologies is a lever on which this struggle can be based. This paper assesses the impact of improved maize seed adoption on market participation of Cameroonian Small Farmers. The data are from a sample of 160 adopters and 99 non-adopters of improved maize seed, result from an investigation carried out within the framework of the project of Reinforcement of the Partnerships of the Agronomic research in Cameroon and prepared by the Agricultural Institute of Research for the Development. We use the comparison of means test for the quantities of maize sold and the gamma generalized linear regression model. The result of the test reveals that adopters of improved maize seed have on average 0.065 ton of maize quantity sold moreover than non-adopters. As for the result of the model, it shows that improved maize seeds have a positive and significant impact on market participation. In other words, the results show that the quantity of maize for sale increases by 90.3% for the Farmers that adopt improved maize seed and 89.2% for those do not adopt it. The Cameroonian government must implement policies that make improved maize seeds available to farmers, followed by training in the new agricultural practices and policies for the actual development of road infrastructures to serve the markets.

Factors influencing adoption of improved technology among maize farmers in Ekiti State Nigeria


 
 
 This study was conducted to investigate the factors determining the adoption of improved maize technologies among farmers in Ekiti State, Nigeria. A two-stage sampling technique was used in selecting the respondents for the study. Primary data were collected with the use of a semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and regression model were used for the analysis. The majority of maize producers in the study area were married, fairly educated and of middle age. The results further showed that the maize farmers were faced with a series of problems such as inadequate credit, bad road network, high-interest rate and lack of collateral. Meanwhile, the adoption of improved maize technology by the farmers was significantly influenced by the use of manure, appropriate planting techniques, use of herbicide, extension visit, and educational status of the farmers. To boost maize production in the study area, the study recommends the provision of single digit loan interest and with facilities, subsidies on farm inputs, construction of roads to production areas, provision of improved maize seeds while farmers should collect a certificate of occupancy on their farmlands to enhance the chances of increasing their access to credit facilities.
 
 

Africa's “Seed” Revolution and Value Chain Constraints to Early Generation Seeds Commercialization and Adoption in Ghana

The study aims to deepen understanding of how Early Generation Seeds value chain constraints impede commercialization and adoption of High Yielding Varieties (HYV) or improved Maize seeds by smallholders in Ghana within the broader strategies of a “Green Revolution for Africa”. Using qualitative and quantitative information obtained through one-on-one interviews with 15 key informants, a household survey from 110 smallholder farmers and document reviews, we discuss constraints and bottlenecks engendered by value chain structures, processes and mechanisms in Ghana's formal seed distribution system. Seven main challenges were identified that undermine trust and hinder the expansion of HYVs: (1) the limited capacity of public institutions, (2) constrained capacity of the emerging private sector, (3) a lack of well-defined, fair and enforceable contracts between stakeholders in the delivery system, (4) land-tenure limitations, (5) poor forecasting of farmers' demands for seeds by research institutions and seed producers, (6) sparse marketing arrangements for improved maize seeds, and (7) concentration of power to control seed supply in the hands of few institutions. We argue these seven issues weaken power asymmetry within the maize seed value chain's governance mechanism to create nodal points that give prominence to key public institutions, NGOs, and research institutions who control the production and distribution of improved seeds. Ultimately, trust among actors and its value chain outputs is undermined, negatively affecting the commercialization, availability, and adoption of improved seeds. Moving forward, upgrading the maize seed value chain must be pursued through targeted public and private sector relationships that acknowledge diverse actors' critical roles in the value chain.

Modeling the adoption and use intensity of improved maize seeds in Benin, West-Africa: Double-hurdle approach

Improved maize seeds are one of the main factors that can contribute to improving maize productivity. This paper was carried out with the aim of identifying the determinants of adoption and improved maize seeds’ intensity use on households in all areas favourable to maize production in Benin using pooled data on 490 producers. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, percentage, frequency distribution, t and chi-square tests were used to summarize the characteristics of the sampled producers. Cragg's Double Hurdle model was also used to categorize producers who adopted or who did not adopt improved maize seed and those who intensified the use of improved maize seed. The results showed that literacy, easy access to improved seed, specific training received on the use of improved varieties and gender, affected the adoption of improved maize seed while easy access to improved seed, maize yield, relationship with extension services, total household size, age squared, number of experience years in maize production, and distance from the producer to where the seed was purchased had a significant influence on the decision to intensify the use of improved maize seed. The fact that the variable easy access to improved seeds affected not only the adoption of improved seeds but also the intensification of their use, confirmed that access to improved seeds was an indisputable success factor for the intensification of improved seed use. Giving producers the capacity to obtain improved maize seed that was financially and geographically improved was a very important aspect to be considered by policy makers in the definition of agricultural policies. Predisposing factors for access(perception of varieties, attitudes towards the choice of new varieties, knowledge and management of these varieties)and capacity factors for access(income, availability of seeds in the environment, and seed prices)must be considered. The establishment of a wide seed distribution network through government and non-governmental organizations or private actors could, therefore, be important to reduce transaction costs and improve access to improved maize seed, and then increase the rate of adoption and continued use of improved seed.

Socio-economic predictors, soil fertility knowledge domains and strategies for sustainable maize intensification in Embu County, Kenya

Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) practices are widely recognized as crucial interventions but knowledge-intensive technologies for farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Very few studies have synthesized the knowledge gaps between small-holder practices and recommended ISFM packages. A farm survey was therefore carried out in Runyenjes sub-County of Embu to determine factors influencing the quality of ISFM knowledge considering inorganic fertilizer, organic manure, integrated soil inputs, and improved maize seeds. One hundred small-scale maize farmers were systematically sampled in Embu County, Kenya, using a cross-sectional survey design. The most significant factors shaping the quality of ISFM knowledge (p < 0.05) included gender, age, household size, land under maize, off-farm earnings, maize yield, members involved in farming, farming experience, education level, and farm size. Farmers recorded lower knowledge scores for technical ISFM themes including soil liming, soil testing, fertilizer types, fertilizer functions, curing of organic manure, compost manure management, crop spacing, combination ratios for integrated inputs, and the labor and cost-benefit implications of integrated inputs, revealing important ISFM knowledge gaps. High-quality knowledge of blended fertilizers and DAP use was associated with increased soil testing and soil liming knowledge, respectively. Multivariate analysis of ISFM knowledge items provided a high-quality understanding of the structure of ISFM knowledge among farmers in Embu County, which is useful in developing future ISFM dissemination strategies.

Impacts of Improved Seed Maize Technology Adoption on Productivity and Technical Efficiency in Northern Ghana

Abstract Improved seed is one of the crucial ingredients for promoting agricultural productivity, farmers’ livelihood, and global food security. The present study uses an endogenous treatment regression model (ETRM) to evaluate the impacts of improved seed maize technology (ISMT) adoption on technical efficiency and productivity using data from maize farmers in northern Ghana. The findings show that ISMT adoption impacts positively on technical efficiency. Adoption of ISMT enhanced technical efficiency by 16.1% and increased maize productivity by 33.8%. The study recommends dissemination of improved maize seeds to farmers and other interventions such as provision of fertilizer to enhance farmers’ technical efficiency and productivity.

Analyze Structure, Conduct, and Performance (SCP) of Maize Markets In Case of Alefa District Northwestern Ethiopia

This study examined the major market channels, and evaluate the market margins for key maize marketing channels in Alefa District, Central Gondar Zone of Amhara Regional State. Both primary and secondary data sources for the study were collected. Primary data were collected through personal interviews from a total of 198 producers and 34 traders. Descriptive statistics was employed to describe the socio-economic characteristics of farm households, and to analyze market related data collected from maize traders. The results show that wholesalers and rural assemblers are the most important buyers of maize from producers, accounting for 44 and 36.35% respectively. Market concentration ratio of 74.07% indicates that the maize market in the study area is characterized as oligopolistic. The result of the study also showed that, maize average production and yield were 18.03 quintals per household and 34.37 quintals per hectare, respectively. The major constraints for maize production and marketing of households in the study area include high price of fertilizers, timely availability of improved seeds, large number of unlicensed traders in the markets, climate change (occurrence of drought, pest/diseases), availability of credit access and non-transparent taxation system. The opportunities comprises presence of potential farmers’ cooperatives to supply fertilizer and improved maize seeds, other farm inputs, and reliable and timely market information sourced from government department; maize productive potential of the area; improved trends of quality of maize; and creating demand for other crops. Finally the study recommends the need to strengthen and promote cooperatives to further exploit their economies of scale through diversifying their intermediary services both in the input and output markets of maize, market information and extension systems. Keywords: Concentration ratio, Cooperatives, Maize, Oligopolistic. DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-34-03 Publication date: December 31 st 2020

Analyze Structure, Conduct, and Performance (SCP) of Maize Markets in Case of Alefa District Northwestern Ethiopia

This study examined the major market channels, and evaluate the market margins for key maize marketing channels in Alefa District, Central Gondar Zone of Amhara Regional State. Both primary and secondary data sources for the study were collected. Primary data were collected through personal interviews from a total of 198 producers and 34 traders. Descriptive statistics was employed to describe the socio-economic characteristics of farm households, and to analyze market related data collected from maize traders. The results show that wholesalers and rural assemblers are the most important buyers of maize from producers, accounting for 44 and 36.35% respectively. Market concentration ratio of 74.07% indicates that the maize market in the study area is characterized as oligopolistic. The result of the study also showed that, maize average production and yield were 18.03 quintals per household and 34.37 quintals per hectare, respectively. The major constraints for maize production and marketing of households in the study area include high price of fertilizers, timely availability of improved seeds, large number of unlicensed traders in the markets, climate change (occurrence of drought, pest/diseases), availability of credit access and non-transparent taxation system. The opportunities comprises presence of potential farmers’ cooperatives to supply fertilizer and improved maize seeds, other farm inputs, and reliable and timely market information sourced from government department; maize productive potential of the area; improved trends of quality of maize; and creating demand for other crops. Finally the study recommends the need to strengthen and promote cooperatives to further exploit their economies of scale through diversifying their intermediary services both in the input and output markets of maize, market information and extension systems. Keywords: Concentration ratio, Cooperatives, Maize, Oligopolistic. DOI: 10.7176/JMCR/70-01 Publication date: August 31 st 2020

Does smallholder maize intensification reduce deforestation? Evidence from Zambia

Increasing food production to meet growing demand while reducing tropical deforestation is a critical sustainability challenge. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa, which faces serious food insecurity issues and where smallholder farming is the main driver of forest conversion. Competing theories imply opposite predictions as to whether deforestation increases or decreases with smallholder agricultural intensification, which can improve food security by increasing crop yields per area cultivated. This research provides new empirical evidence on the association between deforestation and smallholders’ use of modern inputs, in particular inorganic fertilizer on maize and improved maize seeds, using Zambia as a case study. We analyze this association nationwide in a spatially disaggregated manner at the lowest administrative level using machine learning-based small area estimation, which makes use of detailed nationally representative surveys on smallholder farm households for 2011 and 2014, and census data to statistically predict modern inputs use country-wide for 2011, when average maize yields were 1.28 tons/ha. Then, we evaluate the association between improved maize seed and fertilizer inputs and subsequent deforestation, while controlling for key geospatial covariates. The results support the land-sparing hypothesis, finding that smallholder farmers’ use of improved maize seed is negatively associated with deforestation on non-acidic (pH ≥ 5.5) soils, an effect that is enhanced by complementary inorganic fertilizer use. Fertilizer use on its own, however, is weakly associated with increased deforestation. Sustainable intensification via use of improved seeds on adequately fertile soils and improving soil health appears compatible with reducing both deforestation and food insecurity.

A Pathway to Adoption of Yield-Enhancing Agricultural Technologies Among the Rural Poor: Evidence from a Randomized Control Trial in Benin

We tested a novel way of encouraging the adoption of improved maize seeds in Benin. In the treatment group, farmers were provided with intensive agricultural-extension support and a full package of inputs to test on one of their plots. In the control group, farmers were offered improved seeds, and agricultural-extension agents gave them only limited support. Our treatment was designed to encourage farmers to experiment with improved seeds by providing intensive technical support and free inputs throughout the maize crop season. Using a cluster randomized design and data on farmers’ experimental plots, we found a 23% increase in maize yields with our intervention as compared to the less resource-intensive policy solution. Further analyses suggested that it was not enough to expose farmers to a one-time resource-intensive model because the impact on their production was not long-lasting.

Assessment of Maize Production and Adoption of Improved Maize Seeds in Tanahun District of Nepal

The major objective of this study is to assess the status of maize production and adoption of improved maize seeds in Tanahun district. The study also aims to determine the factors affecting the adoption of the improved seeds. 100 maize farmers from four different local bodies of Tanahun were selected by the purposive sampling method for the household survey. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, logit model and index score ranking method were used for the data analysis. The productivity of maize and annual income from maize were 767.62 kg/ha and Rs 9500 higher for the farmers using improved seeds as compared to those using the local seeds. The mean annual household income of farmers replacing the seeds yearly was Rs 18983 higher than the farmers replacing the seeds rarely. The frequency of the agriculture technician support and the frequency of seed replacement with the improved seed were found to significantly determine the adoption of the improved maize seeds. Farmers receiving the regular technician support were 15.726 times more likely to adopt the improved seeds as compared to those receiving the technician support rarely or never. The adopters had 458.10 kg/ha higher productivity than the non-adopters. Lack of irrigation facility was found to be the major problem in maize cultivation whereas the lack of timely availability of improved seed was found to be the most important constraint for the adoption of improved seeds.&#x0D; Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 7(2): 279-288&#x0D;

Efficiency of Maize Production among Smallholder Farmers in Southwest, Nigeria

Maize is cereal crops commonly grown in Nigeria and it is a source of livelihood for many farming households. This study analyzed the resource use efficiency in maize production among smallholder farmers in southwest, Nigeria. A multistage sampling method was used to select two hundred and seventy (270) farmers for this study. Primary data were collected using well-structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, gross margin analysis and stochastic frontier production function were used as analytical tools. The results showed that the mean age of the farmers was 47.7 years. Most (76.3%) are males which were married (82.2%) with household size of 5.8. There is high (82.9%) level of literacy among the farmers. The average output of production was 5,038.25kg which were gotten from planting of improved maize seeds (88.5%). Maize cultivation is profitable enterprise because for every ₦1 invested, ₦1.74will be realized as gain. The Maximum Likelihood Estimate (MLE) results revealed that the technical efficiency of maize farmers varied due to the presence of technical inefficiency effects on maize production. Farm size (5%), quantity of fertilizer (10%) and capital input (1%) are the factors significantly affecting technical efficiency. Also, household size (5%), marital status (1%) and gender (10%) are the factors that significantly influence technical inefficiency. The explanatory variables can account for 66% of the total variations in the efficiencies of production, while 34% of the variations are given to error. Policies and programmes that focus on encouraging more young people and women to agriculture should be enacted and implemented.